Bogolan in Mali

Building on its decade of experience in post-conflict Afghanistan, Rubia empowers artisans in Mali through a combination of poverty alleviation and cultural heritage preservation.

Political instability has been threatening traditional livelihoods, exacerbating poverty and malnutrition in Segou and the UNESCO Cultural Heritage site of Djenne. Known for the sacred “great mosque” with its signature trio of minarets, Djenne had long been a popular tourist destination —until 2013 when warnings of kidnapping and terrorism scared foreigners away. The economic crisis, referred to as “la crise” hit Djenne hard. Bogolan (mudcloth) artisans who had sold their textiles to tourists are struggling to survive.

Bogolanfini is a traditional textile made by the Bambara (Bamanan) people who live by the Niger River. Malian women first drew the geometric motifs with mud to communicate tribal narratives, and passed the symbolic language down from generation to generation of women. Each of the symbols has a meaning and each cloth tells a story. Bogolan has become a symbol of Malian cultural identity.

Rubia is partnering with two social enterprises comprised of women and youth artists: Ndomo Workshop in Segou; and Tanti Bogolan Women's Association in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage city of Djenne.

Rubia is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to develop economic opportunities through craft heritage, to support education, and to promote health and well-being for women and their families in Afghanistan, Mali, and elsewhere.